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Really nice performance! I'm wondering, with that interesting (or should I say controversial?) DP vs AP topic going on, what that performance would sound like played on an AP, just for the sake of comparing the sound.

Sorry I did not like this one bit .It sounded very cheap as if it was a recording taken from a very old Casio.I was kind of hoping it was going to blow me away being though it is a top of the range kawai and I was planning on driving 60 mile to try it out,I'm very disappointed .I am only observing the sound I hear ,your playing is fine.I'm sure the piano sounds excellent from cabinet but for me it needs to record a great sound also for recording quality videos.

On models featuring 88-key sampling, Concert Grand 1 is a well-rounded EX Concert Grand recorded in the standard fashion for classical and jazz music. On many models there is Concert Grand 2, which will be the original Harmonic Imaging Concert Grand sound. It has a very different character from Concert Grand 1.

I personally don't like the Concert Grand 2 on my CA95, it sounds fake to me, but the default Concert Grand 1 sounds quite nice.

It's my view also. At least when I'm listening with my headphones. The default Concert Grand 1 sounds pure, all the others sound inferior over the headphones. When playing through the onboard speakers however, it's different. Then the inferior quality is not that obvious from the non-default samples.

I have to disagree as I think that the "Concert Grand 2" preset is better from the perspective that the tones are brighter (especially in the midrange of the keyboard from about middle C and on up) and the initial decay attack imparts better resonance for those notes when attempting to sustain a long line in a classical piece, like the Schubert Impromptu, Op. 90, No. 3, for example. The initial decay of the notes being played are most important.

I therefore could make a direct comparison (at the CA95 for anyone would want to listen from the "live" perspective of the speakers and soundboard) that the "Concert Grand 2" samples are in fact better than "Concert Grand 1" for certain select notes in the midrange of the keyboard when playing the Schubert Impromptu, with the first sustaining note being the B-flat just above middle C. Anyone listening to me playing this would hear a shorter quick initial decay of the B-flat note in the "Concert Grand 1" preset, as the "Concert Grand 2" preset lends more resonance to the same note with far better initial decay attack.

Any listener would hear this (in my studio room while playing) as I could easily demonstrate the differences between "Concert Grand 1" and "Concert Grand 2." The initial decay is more noticeable over the speakers as compared with headphones.

You would think that this should be the other way around, that the newer samples in the "Concert Grand 1" would have the better initial decay and resonance, but this is not true from what I am hearing.

Regarding 'Concert Grand' vs 'Concert Grand 2', I personally prefer the tonal character of 'Concert Grand', especially with a little tweaking using the various parameters available in the 'Virtual Technician' menu.

However, I would strongly recommend that you do not use the headphone jacks for recording - the 'Line Out' connectors would be a wiser choice.

The best (and most efficient) solution, however, would be to purchase a $5 USB memory stick from...well, pretty much any store, and record your performances digitally as MP3 or WAV files using the instrument's 'USB Audio' feature. I believe I have made this recommendation to you once or twice already, noting that it would also eliminate the 10-20 second delays that typically precede your performances.

Stefaan, I haven't spent a great deal of time playing the CA95, however if I owned one, I would probably reduce the reverb depth a little, increase the string/damper resonance, and attenuate the high frequencies using the EQ.

Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and is perhaps a reflection of the kind of piano sounds that I typically prefer (and the style of music I play).

- I generally don't like the "2" presets, far too metallic for my taste- Jazz Grand is so similar to Concert Grand that it brings nothing new except maybe some mild EQing (if you (don't) like one, you (don't) like the other)- Mellow Grands are useless because of their super short decay (I mean it, the shortest you can imagine on a piano). They may have some value in pieces where you fire a new note every 1/10th of a second but in music where you actually have time to breathe, silence sets in before you know it.- I am undecided about Studio Grand - different from Concert Grand for sure, I like it a little less though. May be good for a change from time to time.- Upright sounds good for very specific kinds of music (ragtime), not good for "general" playing.- Other sounds are useless for classical/jazz piano playing

Overall, Concert Grand 1 is the best and the only one worth testing if you consider buying this piano. I do have some mild reservations about it but that is to be expected I guess.

Edited to add: I like the pv88's playing and imho the recording would strongly benefit from using Concert Grand 1 instead of 2.

Edited 2nd time to add: USB recording as an obvious solution aside, it would probably take less time to cut the 19 seconds from the recording than type the infamous "silent signature" of yours:-)

1. Click the mouse at the point just before the playing begins.2. Keep the mouse button held, then drag the mouse to the left to select the silence.3. Click the 'Cut' icon (represented by a pair of scissors).

1. Click the mouse at the point just before the playing begins.2. Keep the mouse button held, then drag the mouse to the left to select the silence.3. Click the 'Cut' icon (represented by a pair of scissors).

Alternatively:

1. Record directly to a USB flash memory.

Cheers,Jamesx

Thanks James,

I just found a way in which to do the editing (which was similar to the method you describe above) however, it worked just the same. Have posted the new and edited recording (above) with the silence removed from both start/end.

Thanks for posting. I definitely prefer this sound.You play very well, however I feel a certain degree of rigidity in this performance...I'd like it to 'swing' a little more. Perhaps you could have a couple of drinks to let your hair down a little?

...however, I have no intention of changing the current recording setup with a standard audio cable (and, editing in Audacity) as it costs nothing to do so.

Okay, but please be aware that using the headphone jack for recording is not recommended.The line out connectors would be preferable, if you wish to stick with the analogue recording method.

Originally Posted By: pv88

Using the built-in recorder involves extra steps in transferring the recording to a USB stick (at extra cost) every time I make a recording.

Recording directly to USB is more efficient than using audio cables, and typically allows higher quality results. Moreover, if you select to record in MP3 format, the file can be uploaded directly to Box.com etc. without needing to copy the file to your computer or additional conversion. Again, a USB stick shouldn't cost more than $5 - if this is genuinely a concern, I would be happy to send you a device.

Originally Posted By: pv88

As for the piece not having any "swing" to it, this is a slow jazz ballad which was not meant to played in that manner. For something with more of a swing feel or rhythm, listen to the other recording of Body and Soul, posted here above.

Yes, I appreciate that the piece is not really supposed to 'swing' in the sense of having a drum and bass accompaniment. I was commenting more on the 'feel' of the playing style.

As for the piece not having any "swing" to it, this is a slow jazz ballad which was not meant to played in that manner. For something with more of a swing feel or rhythm, listen to the other recording of Body and Soul, posted here above.

Yes, I appreciate that the piece is not really supposed to 'swing' in the sense of having a drum and bass accompaniment. I was more commenting on the 'feel' of the playing style.

It is a jazz piano ballad meaning that there is no swing rhythm in this piece, whatsoever. Using a "drum and bass accompaniment" has little to do with (or has any bearing on) the style or feel of a piece being played in true swing rhythm.

It is a jazz piano ballad meaning that there is no swing rhythm in this piece, whatsoever.

Yes, I appreciate that. Again, I was referring to the 'feel'/'feeling' of the music, not the rhythm. It's something that's very difficult to describe with words, nor can it be properly expressed through a notated score.